The Relationship between Parenting Styles and Parental Psychological Well-Being with Internet Addiction among High School Female Students in District 12 of Tehran

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parenting styles and parental psychological well-being with internet addiction among high school female students. Methods and Materials: The research employed a correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all female high school students in District 12 of Tehran. A sample of 220 students was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection instruments included Young’s Internet Addiction Test (1998), Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Questionnaire (1991), and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (1980). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including multiple regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with the aid of SPSS version 24. Findings: Findings: Multiple regression analysis revealed that the authoritative parenting style was a significant negative predictor of internet addiction (β = -0.21, p < 0.01), accounting for about 4% of its variance. The authoritarian parenting style was a significant positive predictor (β = 0.49, p < 0.01), explaining 24% of the variance. The permissive parenting style did not significantly predict internet addiction (β = -0.08, p > 0.05). Moreover, overall parental psychological well-being was a significant negative predictor of internet addiction (β = -0.48, p < 0.01). At the subscale level, personal growth (β = -0.34, p < 0.01), positive relations (β = -0.56, p < 0.01), purpose in life (β = -0.22, p < 0.05), and self-acceptance (β = -0.29, p < 0.01) were significant negative predictors, while autonomy (β = -0.03, p > 0.05) and environmental mastery (β = -0.08, p > 0.05) were not significant predictors. Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical role of parenting styles and parental psychological well-being in shaping adolescents’ susceptibility to internet addiction. Strengthening parental psychological well-being, fostering positive family relationships, and encouraging authoritative parenting practices can effectively prevent excessive internet use among female students.